Liverpool FC admit defeat in pursuit of Alexis Sanchez

25-year-old looks set to join Premier League rivals Arsenal instead

Liverpool FC
have been forced to admit defeat in their attempts to sign Barcelona attacker Alexis Sanchez.

The Reds held talks with the talented Chile international and hoped he would agree to be a makeweight in the Luis Suarez
deal.

However, Anfield officials have been unable to convince Sanchez to make the move to Merseyside and they are resigned to the 25-year-old joining Premier League rivals Arsenal instead.

Both clubs were willing to match Barcelona’s valuation of around £30million so it came down to the player’s preference.

Sanchez asked for time to consider his options over the weekend and his representatives have now informed Liverpool that he is likely to join the Gunners. They cited the desire of Sanchez's family to live in the capital as key to his decision.

Missing out on Sanchez, who had scored 39 goals in 88 league games for the Spanish giants, is a blow for the Reds as manager Brendan Rodgers believed he would be a perfect addition to the club’s attacking armoury.

It also means that the deal for Suarez is set to be straight cash with Barcelona having already agreed to pay the release clause in his contract of around £75million.

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Alastair Machray

Alastair Machray was appointed editor of The Liverpool Echo in 2005 and is also editor-in-chief of Trinity Mirror Merseyside, Cheshire and North Wales. He is a former editor of The Daily Post (Wales and England) and editor-in-chief of the company's Welsh operations. Married dad-of-two and keen golfer Alastair is one of the longest-serving newspaper editors in the country. His titles have won numerous awards and spearheaded numerous successful campaigns.